Denmark and the Netherlands to Train Ukrainian Pilots on F-16s First: Pentagon

Denmark and the Netherlands will be the first countries to begin training Ukrainian pilots to operate F-16 fighter jets. This announcement was made by U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.

“Other countries will join later,” he stated.

Earlier, Pentagon spokesperson Pat Ryder mentioned that the training and any potential transfer of F-16s to Ukraine is aimed at meeting its mid- to long-term defense needs, rather than for short-term use.

“The F-16s are a long-term commitment to Ukraine,” Ryder noted, adding that the aircraft will not be involved in combat operations anytime soon.